Could Cards pursue Jaramillo?

If the Cardinals want to improve on the dearth of offense that doomed their playoff run, the Rangers may have opened up the door.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo refused the team's offer of a one-year contract and will instead hit the free agent market.

Many consider Jaramillo to be the Dave Duncan of hitting coaches, a guy who can spot little flaws in a hitter's swing that are holding him back. Meanwhile, Cardinals hitting coach Hal McRae has been widely criticized over the past three years for producing an offense that can't handle pitchers with which it is unfamiliar and which is terrible at situational hitting despite a wealth of talent. He is considered to be the most unlikely Cardinals coach to be retained.

If the Cardinals aren't interested in Jaramillo, there is always former St. Louis fly chaser Larry Walker who has spent times with the team as a guest instructer. One of the best hitters and baseball minds in the game, Walker would make a fantastic hitting coach. And I think he would be a great guy to have around in the clubhouse.